Anh Do

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Anh Do
Do in 2011
Born (1977-06-02) 2 June 1977 (age 46)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam[1]
Occupations
SpouseSuzanne Do
Children4
RelativesKhoa Do (brother)
Websitehttps://www.anhdo.com/

Anh Do (born 2 June 1977)[2] is a Vietnamese-born Australian author, actor, comedian, and painter. He has appeared on Australian TV shows such as Thank God You're Here and Good News Week, and was runner-up on Dancing with the Stars in 2007. He studied a combined Business Law degree at the University of Technology, Sydney.[3] He is the brother of film director Khoa Do and has acted in several of Khoa's films, including Footy Legends, which he co-wrote and produced. In 2012, his TV show Anh Does Vietnam began airing. He has been four times a finalist in the Archibald Prize and won the 2017 People's Choice Award.[4] From 2016 to 2021, Do hosted Anh's Brush with Fame on ABC TV in which he concurrently interviews and paints a portrait of prominent Australians.

Early life as a refugee

Anh Do and his family fled to Australia as refugees in 1980.[5] In his 2010 autobiography, The Happiest Refugee, Do tells of how his family survived five days in a leaky fishing boat nine and a half metres long and two metres wide. During the trip his family and the rest of the passengers were attacked by two different bands of pirates. The first group stole one of the two engines and the second group of pirates stole the second engine, which had been broken but repaired by Do's father using a piece of rubber from a thong. It was reported that as the second band of pirates left, one of them threw a gallon of water onboard which kept all but one of the refugees alive, until they were finally rescued by a German merchant ship.[6] The boat was packed with 40 Vietnamese refugees fleeing across the Indian Ocean. "We were crammed in like sardines," he said.[7] Do's family settled in the Sydney suburb of Yagoona.[8]

The Happiest Refugee has won awards, including the 2011 Australian Book of the Year, Biography of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, as well as the Indie Book of the Year Award 2011, Non-fiction Indie Book of the Year 2011, and it was shortlisted for the 2011 NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Community Relations Commission Award.[6]

Career

Do with wife Suzanne in 2005, walking the red carpet at the premiere of Footy Legends

Do attended St Aloysius' College in Milsons Point for his secondary education.[9] When he was 14 he started a small business breeding tropical fish. While studying his first year of law at the University of Technology, Sydney, he owned a stall which sold American Indian artifacts, which he later expanded to four franchised stores. Six months before finishing his combined Business Law degree, law firms offered him jobs which required 60 hours of work a week. He opted to take up stand-up comedy instead.[5] Since 2013 Do has cut back on comedy to focus on painting full-time. He was a finalist in the Archibald Prize in 2014, 2017 and 2019.

From 2016 to 2021, Do hosted Anh's Brush with Fame on ABC-TV.[10][11] In this popular program, Anh Do concurrently interviews and paints a portrait of prominent Australians. He has been criticised for pre-painting the portraits from photographs and enlisting help from his art tutor.[12][13]

Personal life

Do is married to Suzanne (Suzie) Do and they have three sons and a daughter.[14] Do met Suzie whilst they were both studying at university.[15] His mother, Hien, played the role of Van Nguyen's mother, Kim, in Better Man, a film which was produced by Anh's brother Khoa Do.[16]

Awards

  • 2011 Independent Booksellers Book of the Year[17] (for The Happiest Refugee)
  • 2011 Joint winner (with musician Paul Kelly) of the Biography of the Year[18] (for The Happiest Refugee)
  • 2011 Best Newcomer (for The Happiest Refugee)
  • 2011 Book of the Year (for The Happiest Refugee)
  • 2017 People's Choice Award, Archibald Prize (for portrait of Jack Charles)[4]

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Anh Do won one award in that time.[19]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2012 Anh Do Rodney Rude Stand Up Comedian of the Year Won

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
The NRL Footy Show Himself Comedian
Short and Curley Host
2000 SeaChange Quan Tho
2002 Don't Blame Me Vinnie
2003 All Saints Tim Salter Episode: "The Devil to Pay"
The Finished People Factory Worker
2005 Little Fish Tran
Blue Water High Robbo Episode: "It's Hard to Be Normal"
2005-2007 Pizza Chong Fat
2006 Two Twisted Paramedic
Solo Nguyen
Footy Legends Luc Vu
2006 & 2007 Thank God You're Here Himself Improvised comedy series

Contestant

2007 Kick Hoa Tran
Dancing with the Stars Contestant Reality television series
Deal or No Deal Contestant Reality television series

Celebrity special Won maximum prize of $200,000

2008 Crooked Business Benny Wing
Double the Fist Krakbot
Made in China Host
2009 The Squiz Host Game show television series
Top Gear Australia Guest Motoring reality television series
2010 Matty Johns Show Himself Anh Can Do segment
Talking Heads Guest Series 6, Episode 33
2012 Pictures of You Guest Talk show
2012-2014 Anh Does Host Travel and lifestyle television series
2014-2016 Long Lost Family (Australia) Co-host Documentary series
2016-2021 Anh's Brush with Fame Host Talk show

Books

Year Title Publisher Unique identifier Notes
2010 The Happiest Refugee Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781742372389
2011 The Little Refugee Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781742378329 Picture book

Co-authored with Suzanne Do Illustrated by Bruce Whatley

2013 WeirDo Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781742837581 Illustrated by Jules Faber
2014 WeirDo 2: Even Weirder! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781743622711 Illustrated by Jules Faber
WeirDo 3: Extra Weird Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781743627051 Illustrated by Jules Faber
2015 WeirDo 4: Super Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781743629314 Illustrated by Jules Faber
WeirDo 5: Totally Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760155346 Illustrated by Jules Faber
2016 WeirDo 6: Crazy Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760159085 Illustrated by Jules Faber
WeirDo 7: Mega Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760159092 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Hot Dog! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760279004 Illustrated by Dan McGuiness
What Do They do with all the Poo from all the Animals at the Zoo? Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760264475 Picture book

Illustrated by Laura Wood

2017 WeirDo 8: Really Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760276768 Illustrated by Jules Faber
WeirDo 9: Spooky Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760276775 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Hot Dog! 2 Party Time Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760279011 Illustrated by Dan McGuiness
2018 WeirDo 10: Messy Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781742768045 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Ninja Kid Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781742993263 Illustrated by Jeremy Ley
WeirDo 11: Splashy Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781742993751 Illustrated by Jules Faber
2019 Rise of the Mythix: Golden Unicorn Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760525132 Illustrated by Chris Wahl
WeirDo 12: Hopping Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781742997926 Illustrated by Jules Faber
WeirDo 13: Weirdomania! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781742997933 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Wolf Girl: Into the Wild Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760525095 Illustrated by Jeremy Ley
Wolf Girl 2: The Great Escape Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760876357 Illustrated by Jeremy Ley
2020 WeirDo 14: Vote Weirdo Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781743836668 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Rise of the Mythix 2: Mighty Minotaur Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760876401 Illustrated by Chris Wahl
WeirDo 15: Planet Weird Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781743836675 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Wolf Girl 3: The Secret Cave Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760876371 Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh
Wolf Girl 4: The Traitor Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760877866 Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh
2021 Rise of the Mythix 3: Flight of the Griffin Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760876418 Illustrated by Chris Wahl
WeirDo 16: Tasty Weird! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760974657 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Weirdo 17: Spinning Weird Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760979027 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Rise of the Mythix 4: Legends Unite Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760879068 Illustrated by Chris Wahl
Wolf Girl 5: Across the Sea Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760879044 Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh
Wolf Girl 6: Animal Train Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781760879051 Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh
2022 Weirdo #18: Weird History! Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781761127397 Illustrated by Jules Faber
Rise of the Mythix 5: The Last Gladiator Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781761065682 Illustrated by Marcelo Baez
Wolf Girl 7: Crash Course Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781761065644 Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh
Wolf Girl 8: Welcome to Paradise Allen & Unwin ISBN 9781761065651 Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh

References

  1. ^ Do, Anh (22 March 2011). The Happiest Refugee: The Extraordinary True Story of a Boy's Journey from Starvation at Sea to Becoming One of Australia's Best-loved Comedians. ReadHowYouWant.com. ISBN 9781459616059.
  2. ^ "Do, Anh - Full record view - Libraries Australia Search". librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  3. ^ Celebrity Speakers Archived 29 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Anh Do
  4. ^ a b "Archibald Prize Archibald 2022 work: Peter, up close by Anh Do". Art Gallery of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Profile: Anh Do". The Age. Melbourne. 2 February 2011.
  6. ^ a b Do, Anh (2010). The Happiest Refugee. Allen&Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74237-238-9.
  7. ^ "No laughing matter". Steve Dow. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  8. ^ Steve Dow (13 May 2019). "No laughing matter". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  9. ^ McCowen, Sharyn. "Happiest refugee gives 'all credit to big fella upstairs'". The Catholic Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  10. ^ Knox, David (30 July 2016). "Airdate: Anh's Brush with Fame". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  11. ^ David Knox (14 March 2019). "Returning: Anh's Brush with Fame". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  12. ^ Perry, Kevin (18 July 2019). "Should ABC viewers feel cheated by ANH DO and that 7 year old image of Chef KYLIE KWONG?". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  13. ^ Hornery, Andrew (2 July 2021). "Anh Do refuses to let critics, doubters take gloss off his celebrity portraits". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  14. ^ Taylor, Andrew (5 September 2014). "Why comedian Anh Do turned his hand to painting for the Archibald Prize". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  15. ^ Catie Powers (19 November 2021). "Anh Do was initially rejected by his wife Suzie before they fell in love". New Idea. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  16. ^ David Wenham proud of Better Man's message, TV Tonight, 30 July 2013
  17. ^ Comedian Anh Do wins indie book prize | ABC Radio 26 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013
  18. ^ Comedian wins top book prize | ABC News 15 March 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013
  19. ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

External links

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